My Daughter Nora Attends the Queen’s Funeral.

On September 8th 2022 Elizabeth 11 Queen of England and the Commonwealth died. Then followed ten days of mourning. People showed their love and respect to their Queen by lining the streets as her coffin passed through Scotland and London. Her coffin lay in State in Westminster Hall. It is said 260,000 passed by her coffin. Two million people lined the streets of London to watch the final journey from Westminster Abbey to Windsor.

Two thousand people were invited to attend the funeral service in Westminster Abbey. World leaders, foreign royalty, dignitaries, religious leaders, the Royal family, former prime ministers were to attend. 200 people who were listed in the recent Queen’s honours list were invited. Other invitations were sent to people who worked in a voluntarty capacity in organisations. .

My daughter Nora was in shock when she received an email on the tenth of September inviting her to attend the Queen’s funeral. How come? Nora worked in a voluntary capacity as Chair of the Museums in Belfast.

Nora booked her flights to attend and waited for the letter with the official invitation. She was nervous all week wondering “Is this real.” The awaited letter arrived on Saturday. We were on holiday while all this excitement was going on back home.

She shared the news with her sister Ruth who affirmed her and reassured her it wasn’t fake news. She arranged accommodation for her in London

The Archbishop of Westminster gave a brief speech at the funeral. The late Queen wanted it to be said before everyone viewing that she was a believer in Jesus.

He stated “Her Late Majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the Nation and Commonwealth. Rarely has such a promise been so well kept!
Jesus – who in our reading does not tell his disciples how to follow, but who – said: “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed.”

My daughter too is a follower of Jesus. Jesus is the King of kings. When Pilate asked Jesus was he King of the Jews He did not deny it. Jesus told the religious leaders who accused him “. In the future you will see the Son of man seated in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Jesus is now reigning in heaven over all rule, authority, power and dominion .

Nora knows Gods love and care for her with the honor of being seated with kings and princes from the nations. Scripture says in
Psalm113,

He lifts the poor and seats them with princes in the land.

We are a family from humble beginnings. We are all honoured when Nora, one of us was invited to attend such an historical event as the Queen’s funeral in 2022.

God’s Signet Ring

I started to write this morning after reading this scripture.

I will treat you like a signet ring on my finger, says The Lord, for I have especially chosen you. I, The Lord Almighty, have spoken. Haggai 2 v 23

People think God is far removed from our daily lives. They think he is busy up in heaven thinking up some punishment for us. Or that we have to offer him some sacrifice to appease him. No no, God cares for us. He sees everyone and is acquainted with their grief. It is the devil who brings oppression and sorrow. But he is defeated by Jesus death on the Cross. He shed his Blood. His sacrifice is enough to please the Father. We believe and receive his blessings.

I am reminded of Robin Mark’s song, Revival in Belfast. This song was written about Belfast when there was war on the streets of this city.  Despite the war Robin Mark declared “You love this city and you love these streets.”   We now have peace on the streets of Belfast.

Here are some of the words that remind us God sees and loves us in our situation.

Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.
Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
One may feel their life is hum drum, or does my life really count.

But God has chosen you and me to be His very own…to be His priceless possession. To be His signet ring means we are under a covenant with Him..an everlasting relationship that extends to eternity. Do you hear Him telling you, “Everything that I possess belongs to you…Its like a package…When you have me…you have everything”. When God says that you are His signet ring, it means that He has given you the power and authority of the King of Kings…and whatever you claim in His name is given to you and nothing can prevent you from receiving it. You are given the power to break the yokes of the devil, you are given the authority to claim victory, you are given the rights to change the decrees written against you..because you represent the King of Kings.

I used the authority of the name of Jesus, the King of Kings, to rebuke all cancer in my body, that I will not die but I will live to tell others what God has done for me.  God responded to what I said and he healed me.  I remain healed.  I do not have cancer in my body.  I do not take medication to stop cancer returning.  God has done a good and complete job.

Like in a marriage the bride wears a ring,  as the song goes “to show the world that she belongs to the me.”

Do you realize your noble status? You are not an ordinary person..You belong to a royal family. We were not worthy to be called His own, yet He chose us to be one. So let us consider ourselves ,honored and privileged to be called His own and use the power and authority of our Father, the King of Kings.

God loves you and is betrothed to you. He wears a ring on his finger to remind him of you. Do you feel rejected? That no one has chosen you? That no one has bought a ring for you? God cares and loves you. Receive his love and use his name to pray for your needs.

 

See also Revival in Belfast by Robin Mark on U tube.

 

 

A Night at the Theatre to hear Handel’s Messiah

We were given complimentary tickets to Handel’s Messiah, performed in the Belfast Waterfront by the Ulster Orchestra and the Belfast Philharmonic.  We were joined by two friends who arranged supper and a lift to the theatre.

In the Program Notes it says that Handel’s first performance of Messiah was in Dublin rather than in London.  The Messiah was written around the 1740 s during the period of Enlightenment and scientific questioning, and the of message of Jesus Christ was unpopular.  There is nothing new under the sun.

In our secular, humanistic society there is not much mention of God.  Santa Claus is glorified at Christmas time rather than Our Father in heaven who sent his son Jesus on earth to redeem mankind.  The gospel is not popular where man is in control.

People would be entertained at the theatre or opera houses in Handel’s day.  The equivalent media today is television.  Not everyone liked the idea of the gospel message being played in the opera house.

The words of Handel’s Messiah are all biblical texts proclaiming Jesus birth, death and ressurection, written by Charles Jennens.  There was opposition to his work and the word Messiah was omitted for its first performance in London.  However I believe this work was inspired by God.

I particularly liked the Chorus. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.  The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed.”

It is because I believe in the truth of these words that I am healed from fourth stage cancer.  Jesus was wounded so I can be healed.   

When Handel’s Messiah was performed in the nations down through the centuries people have heard the words of the gospel. The message of Jesus’ promise of forgiveness, healing, restoration and victory through his death on the cross has been sung in the great theatres of the world.  Who knows how God works.  He sends his word throughout the earth.  It will not return void.

Give thanks to The Lord, call upon his name.  Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.  1 Chron 16 v 8

When one speaks the truth of the word of God, Satan flees and people’s ears are opened.  Words are creative.  We are not limited to speak about God in churches.  Different songs are written and played through the media for people to hear.  One simple example comes to mind.  “Go tell it on the mountain.”  In the movie Sister Act there is a song the nuns sing called “I will follow him.”  Gods word says “Open your mouth and I will fill it.”  Johnny Cash went into prisons and sung the gospel message to the prisoners.

It was very powerful moment last night when the Ulster Orchestra played the Alleluia Chorus.  The drums beat and the trumpeters blasted.  The 160 strong choir stood up followed by the audience of two thousand people and sang out to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The angels would have joined us.

“Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.
And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.
They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. (‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭11-14‬ NLT)

Satan does not want the words of the Gospel proclaimed.  When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus responded by saying it is written and quoted the scriptures.  When we speak in line with the scriptures we defeat Satan and God moves according to our words.  Mary said to the angel “Be it done unto me according to your word.”  She humbly accepted the words of the angel that she would become the mother of Jesus.

All creation gives Glory to God.  It was good to sing out with two thousand other people to give Glory to God.